Mandevilla plant named ‘ESDEFL1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Mandevilla  plant named ‘ESDEFL1’ which is characterized by a compact growth habit, dark green and glossy foliage, medium-sized dark red flowers with a darker red throat and yellow-orange floral tube, as well as the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Mandevilla sanderi (Hemsl.) Woodson.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Mandevilla disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘ESDEFL1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘ESDEFL1’ is a seedling selection from bulked seed that was produced from the open pollination of a plurality of cultivated, phenotypically-similar unnamed Mandevilla sanderi plants (not patented). In October of 2014, seed harvested from said Mandevilla sanderi plants was sown at a commercial greenhouse in Gavenzande, the Netherlands and allowed to grow to maturity for observation. In the summer of 2015, one plant from this bulked Mandevilla sanderi seed was observed to exhibit unique growth and flower characteristics and was isolated for further evaluation in order to confirm the distinctness and stability of the characteristics first observed. Upon confirmation of distinctness and stability, ‘ESDEFL1’ was selected for commercialization.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘ESDEFL1’, by way of softwood stem cuttings, was first initiated in the summer of 2015 at a commercial greenhouse in Gavenzande, The Netherlands. Through four subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘ESDEFL1’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘ESDEFL1’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘ESDEFL1’ as a new and distinct Mandevilla cultivar:

-   -   1. Mandevilla ‘ESDEFL1’ exhibits a compact growth habit; and     -   2. Mandevilla ‘ESDEFL1’ exhibits smooth, dark green and glossy         foliage; and     -   3. Mandevilla ‘ESDEFL1’ exhibits a medium-sized dark red flower         petals with a darker red floral throat and yellow-orange inner         corolla tube.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1. illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of ‘ESDEFL1’ in flower, grown in a commercial greenhouse in Gavenzande, the Netherlands.

FIG. 2. illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the foliage of ‘ESDEFL1’.

FIG. 3. illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the flower of ‘ESDEFL1’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements were made in October of 2019 and describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 12 month old ‘ESDEFL1’ plants grown in 19 cm nursery pots grown in a greenhouse in Gavenzande, The Netherlands. Plants were grown in full sun exposure and regularly watered with overhead irrigation. No pest or disease measures were taken.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘ESDEFL1’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climactic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘ESDEFL1’ and comparisons with the presumed parent and most similar known variety of Mandevilla sanderi are provided below.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Vining perennial; broad upright.         -   Plant shape.—Obovate to broad obovate.         -   Average height from base to top of foliage.—34.6 cm.         -   Average height from base to top of the floral plane.—29.0             cm.         -   Average width.—35.3 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast growing.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.         -   Propagation.—Type — Softwood stem cuttings. Time to initiate             rooting — Approximately 42 days at 21 degrees Celsius. Time             to Produce a Finished Plant — Approximately 9 months are             required to produce a fully rooted and marketable plant in a             19 cm nursery container.         -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Plants have             not been observed to be susceptible or resistant to             pathogens and pests common to Mandevilla sanderi.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to at least USDA Zones 10             and 12, and temperatures ranging from at least 5 degrees to             40 degrees Celsius; moderate tolerance to rain; low to             moderate tolerance to wind; moderate tolerance to drought. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Freely branching; moderately dense rooting.         -   Texture.—Fibrous.         -   Color.—Light brown. -   Stem:     -   -   Branching habit.—Basally branching main stem; freely             branching with lateral branches.         -   Number of main stems per plant.—2.         -   Number of lateral branches per plant.—5.         -   Appearance; cross-section.—Rounded.         -   Length of lateral branches.—15.9 cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—0.3 cm at the widest point.         -   Internode length on lateral branches.—3.2 cm         -   Aspect.—Upright; angle is approximately 35 degrees from             vertical plane.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Color, juvenile.—Yellow-green, in between RHS 144B.         -   Color, mature.—Yellow-green, in between RHS 144B.         -   Color at internodes.—Yellow-green, in between RHS 144B.         -   Texture and luster.—Glabrescent and moderately glossy.         -   Color of bark on main stems.—Brown, nearest to RHS 200D.         -   Other stem characteristics.—Stems produce a milky sap when             damaged. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 10 leaves per stem, as observed.         -   Lamina.—Dimensions — 6.2 cm long and 4.8 cm wide, on             average. Shape — Broad obovate to broad elliptic. Aspect —             Concave; slightly reflexed. Apex — Abruptly acute. Base —             Rounded. Margin — Entire; not undulated. Pubescence, texture             and luster of adaxial surface — Glabrous, smooth, and             moderately glossy. Pubescence, texture and luster of abaxial             surface — Glabrous, smooth, and slightly to moderately             glossy. Color — Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Nearest             to in between green and yellow-green, RHS 139A and 147A.             Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — Grey-brown, nearest to             in between RHS N199A and N199B. Mature foliage, adaxial             surface — Nearest to in between yellow-green and             greyed-green, RHS 147A and N189A. Mature foliage, abaxial             surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146B. Venation —             Pattern — Pinnate. Venation color, adaxial surface —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A. Venation color, abaxial             surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145B.         -   Petiole.—Length — 1.8 cm. Width — 0.2 cm. Texture — Smooth             and glabrous. Luster — Moderately glossy. Strength —             Moderately strong. Color, adaxial surface — Yellow-green,             nearest to in between RHS 146B and 146C. Color, abaxial             surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144B. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Axillary racemes.         -   Dimensions.—12.9 cm high, including the peduncle, and 14.4             cm in diameter.         -   Natural flowering season.—Spring through autumn in USDA             Hardiness Zones 10 through 12.         -   Time to flower.—Approximately 10 weeks from planting a             rooted cutting.         -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—3 on average; varying             from 2 to 4.         -   Quantity of flowers per plant.—2.         -   Quantity of flower buds per plant.—5.         -   Quantity of flowers and flower buds per plant.—7.         -   Peduncle.—Dimensions — 6.3 cm long and 0.25 cm in diameter.             Aspect — Upward and outward; at approximately 35 degrees to             the lateral branch axis. Strength — Moderately strong.             Texture and luster — Glabrous and moderately glossy. Color —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Dimensions.—5.1 cm long and 1.2 cm in diameter.         -   Pubescence, texture and luster.—Glabrous, smooth and             slightly glossy.         -   Color.—The distal portion of the bud is red, nearest to RHS             46A; the middle section is yellow-green, nearest to RHS             145B; the proximal portion of the bud is yellow-green,             nearest to RHS 145A. -   Flower:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Moderately free flowering.         -   Shape.—Funnelform.         -   Total length.—6.5 cm.         -   Total diameter.—8.4 cm.         -   Floral throat diameter.—2.5 cm.         -   Attitude.—Flowers are outward facing.         -   Fragrance.—Non-fragrant.         -   Lastingness.—Approximately 10 days.         -   Persistent.—Self-cleaning.         -   Pedicels.—Dimensions — 1.8 cm long and 0.3 cm in diameter.             Aspect — Upward and outward; approximately 20 degrees to the             peduncle axis. Strength — Moderately strong. Texture and             luster — Glabrous, smooth, and moderately glossy. Color —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144B.         -   Petals.—Quantity of Petals — 5. Arrangement — Single whorl;             petals imbricate and fused into an elongated tube at the             base; lower 60 percent of the petals are fused. Shape of             petal lobes — Spatulate. Length — 8.8 cm. Width — 3.8 cm at             the base of the free portion of the petal. Apex — Unequally,             bluntly apiculate. Base — Fused at the base. Margin —             Entire; moderately to highly undulated. Aspect — Moderately             reflexed. Pubescence, texture and luster of upper surface —             Glabrous, velvety and very slightly glossy. Pubescence,             texture and luster of lower surface — Glabrous, moderately             velvety and slightly glossy. Petal lobe color when opening,             upper surface — Red, nearest to RHS N45A; floral throat is             red, nearest to RHS 46A. No visible venation. Petal lobe             color when opening, lower surface — Red, nearest to in             between RHS 53A and 53B, and fading lighter towards the             floral tube, nearest to RHS 54A. Main vein is white, nearest             to RHS N155B; no other venation is visible. Petal lobe color             when fully opened, upper surface — Red, nearest to RHS N45B.             The floral throat is red, nearest to in between RHS N45A and             46A. No visible venation. Petal color does not fade with             age. Petal lobe color when fully opened, lower surface —             Red, nearest to RHS 53C, and fading lighter towards the             floral tube, nearest to RHS 54A. Main vein is red-purple,             nearest to RHS 73D; no other venation is visible. Petal             color does not fade with age.         -   Floral tube.—Diameter of floral tube — 0.7 cm, on average,             along the entire length of the floral tube. Distal most             portion of the tube is 2.5 cm at the widest point. Length of             floral tube — 5.3 cm. Texture — Smooth; glabrous. Inner             floral tube color, when fully opened — Outer portion is             orange-red, nearest to RHS 31A, suffused with red-purple,             nearest to RHS 58B; narrow portion of the tube is             yellow-green, RHS 145A. No venation is visible. Outer floral             tube color, when fully opened — Red-purple, nearest to RHS             58B, and fading to yellow-green towards the narrow portion             of the tube, nearest to in between RHS 145C and 145D; narrow             portion of the floral tube is yellow-green, nearest to RHS             144B. No visible venation.         -   Calyx.—Calyx dimensions — 1.0 cm in diameter and 0.7 cm in             diameter. Arrangement — Sepals are free, rotate. Sepals —             Quantity — 5. Shape — Narrow triangular to lanceolate. Sepal             dimensions — 0.9 cm long and 0.3 cm wide at the base. Apex —             Narrow acuminate. Base — Cuneate. Margin — Entire; not             undulated. Pubescence, texture and luster, upper surface —             Smooth; glabrous; slightly glossy. Pubescence, texture and             luster, lower surface — Smooth; glabrous; very slightly             glossy. Color when opening, upper surface — Yellow-green,             nearest to in between RHS 144A and 144B; margined red,             nearest to RHS 38D; tipped red, nearest to RHS 42B. Color             when opening, lower surface — Yellow-green, nearest to in             between RHS 144A and 144B; margined red, nearest to RHS 37C;             tipped red, nearest to in between RHS 42A and 42B. Color             when fully opened, upper surface — Yellow-green, nearest to             in between RHS 144A and 144B; margined red, nearest to RHS             38D; tipped red, nearest to RHS 42B. Color when fully             opened, lower surface — Yellow-green, nearest to in between             RHS 144A and 144B; margined red, nearest to RHS 37C; tipped             red, nearest to in between RHS 42A and 42B. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamen quantity — 5. Filament attachment —             Adnate. Filament length — 0.3 cm. Filament color —             Yellow-green, nearest to in between RHS 151B and 151C.             Filament texture — Densely covered with short hairs of             approximately 1.0 mm long; hairs are colored white, RHS             155D. Anther attachment — Basifixed. Anther shape — Narrowly             sagitate with tips touching and thus forming a small, narrow             cone. Anther length — 1.0 cm. Anther width — 0.175 cm.             Anther color — Greyed-yellow, nearest to RHS 162C. Anther             aspect — The five anthers are touching at their apices, thus             forming a cone of anthers. Pollen, presence — None detected.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistil quantity — 1. Pistil length — 3.0 cm.             Style length — 2.7 cm. Style color — Yellow-green, nearest             to RHS 145D. Stigma shape — Club-shaped. Stigma length —             0.3 cm. Stigma diameter — 0.3 cm. Stigma color —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 147D. Ovary color —             Yellow-green, nearest to in between RHS 144B and 144C. -   Seed and fruit: None observed.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANTS

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ESDEFL1’ differ from the phenotypically-similar population of unnamed Mandevilla sanderi plants from which seed was bulked by the characteristics described in Table 1. Although the exact parentage is unknown, it is probable that both the seed parent and pollen parent originated from within the population as it was geographically isolated from any other Mandevilla sanderi plants.

TABLE 1 Phenotypically- similar, unnamed Characteristic ‘ESDEFL1’ Mandevilla sanderi plants General coloration Lighter shade of green. Darker shade of green. of the foliage. Flower size. Larger than the parent Smaller than ‘ESDEFL’. General coloration Darker shade of red. Lighter shade of red. of the flower.

COMPARISON WITH THE MOST SIMILAR MANDEVILLA CULTIVAR KNOWN TO THE INVENTOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ESDEFL1’ may be distinguished from the most similar known commercial comparator, Mandevilla ‘Rio Deep Red’ (not patented) by the characteristics described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘ESDEFL1’ ‘Rio Deep Red’ Foliage luster. Glossier than ‘Rio Less glossy than Deep Red’. ‘ESDEFL1’. Growth habit. More compact than Less compact than ‘Rio Deep Red’. ‘ESDEFL1’. Flower color when Darker red than Lighter shade of red fully opened. ‘Rio Deep Red’. compared to ‘ESDEFL1’. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Mandevilla plant named ‘ESDEFL1’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 